Stapling machine



Sept. 19,Y 1944. s. A. CROSBY 2,358,317

STAPLING MACHINE Fi-led July 1o, 1939 s sheets-sheet 1 .N owhmv R Y I lo E Esqwwh um N. .m I; x E O @n g -1. dl Rw. .n HIMI- Hj 'VII M mi n@ lA l|f|MMI|L I| lllll llhlrili+lu ma@ s. A.` cRosBY STAPLING MACHINEFiled July 1Q, 1939 Sept. 19, 1944.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR AToRNEY Sept. 19, 1944. s. A. cRosBY STAPLINGMACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 1o, 193s NVENTOR f ATTORNEY PatentedSept. 19, 1944 UNITED r Stephen A. Crosby..JacksowlligltgN; Y..asfsignor to lSpeed Products Company; New York,

ApplicationJuly'105l939; SeriaLNfr. 283,693

woei-ms. (or 1:a

'Ihe presenti invention pertains to staplingi machines and the dominantobjectthereois# realized in the provision of an improved andiserviceable staplingY machine: wherein' the swingable arm thereofcomprises cornpl'mentaryI sec-1 tions defining a staple'magazine and*Lacover' slidably or reciprocablyr connected4k to the-maga*- zine wherebyconvenient'l access-maybe readilyf had to the staple carryingrai1-inthe` maga zinelby rearwardly and rectilinearly displacing thecover relative to the magazine. Another' object of the invention is tovvprovidea stap'lingv machine wherein the magazine'ha'sf track means forslidably and rectilinearl'y guiding the cover' andY wherein aslidablyguided' follower' is".Vl re= ciprocated' upon reoiprocation ofithe: coverl due'l tothe action of an extendible springV trained overmanually shiftable latch meansi adapted t`o interlock with keeper meanson themaga v` zinev to sustain the'cover in4 a closed or" openvkposition relativeto'l the magazine: A" further object ofthe inventionresides' in the provision of means for automatically shifting'the'coveirearwardly of the magazine to open thelatter" upon releasing theshiftablelatchme'ans when, the' cover isV in a position closing themaga"- zine. Further objects,.f`eatures and. functional" and' structuraladvantages-ofL the inventiomwill' be. readily understood from'the"teaeln'g'sofitle' Fig.' 2b is a transverse4 sectional View) on' the"f line`2D-2b`of`Fig`l 2.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of" theY stap'ling machine showing thecomplementary" sections of the swingable arm thereof inIaclosed"r'e'la"l tion;Y

' Fig;A 4--is a perspective view of thestapli-ng mar 5-0;

chine illustratingl the complementary' upper andi lower sections oftheswingableffarm thereofv in'A an open relation.

Fig. @is afragmentary exploded'vi'ew' offtheMh magazine in perspective:

Fig; 4iiisr ai fragmentary perspective view of the rail. Y c o Fig;l 5Vis a' transverse sectionall v-iewsubstantially;` onvlthe' line5-1-"5foff'Fig-z'l.,

o Fig.'` 6= is; a'seotional"viewx onn the liner` 6--6 of ligllz,` l 7lis aV sectional-f view Fig.: 1'-

f 8 is ai sectional` viewfonf theline 8--8fof Fig;- l

.9'is1 afperspective'viewl of thefinner part orf railrv housing of' themagazine..

Fig.' 10'; isL a perspective view off theoutside;

part or: guard` ofi the magazine.:

Figui-la isa-perspectivef view-'of the butterflylocking latch-'2 for thecomplementary sectionsof without any staples.y

Fig: 13is afviewsimilar; to 1igf'1f2vshowing the?upperisectioneoncoverinra position' partly opening ithermagazinef-of thel swing'able.- arm.

coven shiftedzto itsfmost rearward positionz Wh'ere it= isAautomatically locked;

1'5'is1 anrenlargedl fragmentary'v view of 1 4;` and;

Fig. 16:-v is a'seetional: View oni the: line" I'e-l' swingablearm' Amay; besaicll to includercom-Y pl'ementary upper and lowerc'omponent'sglthe upperfcomponent orsectionr being the Acover C fori'magazine: M; which: nay:^ -bef said? toy be thelow'er' component ori'section.

strip off staples F31' arefzvrsiidablyr Y,gin ed; The rear end of therail includ'esa'lug |54 itting' close@` lyiinto arectan'gularfopening Iintherearfverare spaced from the depending sides of the rail and denetherewith longitudinal channels 2l, the walls of which slidably guidethe depending legs of the staples 22 of theV staple tal face 26 and thefront end of the rail is likewise fiXedly retained but at the front endof the inner rail housing I8. For this -purpose each of the sides 26 ofthe rail isprovided with spaced depending lugs 21 and 2Bwliichiit.close.`

ly into the locating recesses and notches 29 and 30 respectively in thebottom wall I1 of the rail housing I8. Thus the rail is' -prevented fromlongitudinal and lateral displacement relative to its housing and toprevent displacement of the front end of the rail,'lugs 128` areriveted/or slightly upset as is well understood. J; With the railpositioned in -therail housing I8, the latter is arranged inthe outerchanneled member or one piece guard Ginsuch away. that the innertransverse face 3| of the front wal1.3'2 is against the fronttransverse? faces 33 Aof-'the sides I9 and the projecting lugs 25thereof. ThusA arranged, the upper faces 34 of -lugs25 are under andagainst the forward ends of the inwardly overhanging interrupted flanges36 of the sides 31 of the guard whichV are spotwelded' to the spacedsides I9 of the rail housing' I8 and with the rail housing so locatedandV xedlyvattached' to the guard, openings 38Y of thea ears 39 of sidesI9 ofthe rail housing IBiareJin'alin'e-l ment with openings 40 of theears'wllhofithef sides L31 of the guard and the'fbores of these alinedopenings are rotatably associatedqwithi ,and are guided by the fulcrumlpin |2. jHence.; the magazine mayY be saidftolbepivotally. sustainedvby the base B. 'f' 'r f1 Where the rail is located in respect tothehol'iS-.f ing I8 and the latter is xed to the outside guard G theforward transverse face-42 offthe'railv is spaced from the innertransverse. face 3| Vof `the. front wall 32 of the vguardgthus providing'a verti-cally arranged staple raceway 43: inwhichv theY forward staple22 of the .staple strip I3 is arranged at they completion of'each,complete 'return stroke of a staple ejeoting blade..44 carriedby theslidably guided plunger or .driver 4generally designated P comprisingthe Uxshaped member 45, reciprocablyjguided between the sheath 46 andthe case 41 of the cover C, that: is, end faces 48 (Fig. 1b) of thesides 49, of :the case 41 serve as rectilinear bearingsV for the endfaces 56 of the sides 5I ofthe Ushapedfmernber 45 of the'driver P towhich the blade 44`is fxedly attached.

The blade 44'is also'slidable relative to ftheinner transverse face 52ofthe front transversewall 53 of the sheath 46 having its rearwardlyextending sides or wings 54 closelyxstraddling; sides 5I of the -driverP and the sides 4,91ofxthecase 41 and suitable dowel pins .or rivets55.V are' utilized. to xedly fasten or holditogether the sheath 46, andcase 41 eachAof-which may belsaid to be a-channeled member, thechannelpf ther sheath facing rearwardly while thechannelof the casevfaces downwardly. .l p

In thev assembled relation of the driveror plunj ger P,Sheath 46 andcase v 41, .thefront end faces sa' of the lower'.portionsV51,0ffsides4qjof the case 41 cooperate 'Wththe transverseface 5 2Y ofthe front wall 53 of the sheath to characterize a gap to verticallyguide and facilitate the reciprocation of the blade 44 which is normallyheld in a fully raised position by the helicoidal spring 58 having itsupper end appropriately retained by the suitably notched and fixedeXtension 59 projecting forwardly from the downwardlyand rearwardlycurved upper wall 6 6 which is integralgwith the spaced dependingsideWalls 49 which have their lower portions' or margins'51 projectingappreciably below the sides 54 of the sheath 46 while the lower end ofspring 58 is `retained `or held by the offset lug 6I extendingrearwardly of and carried by the movable U shaped member o f the plungerP to the upper VVend* of' which isfastened at metal plate 64 to whichcap 62 is secured. Hence upward displace- 5 mentiof -th'eplunger islimited by the fixed extension 59 which cooperates with a lug 63projecting from each wall 5I of the plunger P while Y the upperface 65of the sheath 46 acts as a stop for plate 64 to limit downwarddisplacement of the-plunger. Y

As previously stated, the cover C can be slidably and bodily shifted tothe rear of the magazine in order to obtain access to the fixed rail,provided of course, the slidably guided liftable inclined lockinglatch.V 61 which is carried by the cover has itslower lipportions 68removed from thefront andalined notches 69 which interrupt theanges orseats 36 of the guard. This so called butterfly latch 61 is disposedtransversely of the cover ,andextends through the alined inclined andelongated guide slots 16 and the enlarged-i'rregularly shaped reliefslots 1I (Fig. 5) in the sides 54 and 49 -of the sheath 46fahd case 41lrespectively and portions of the spaced sideY 54 of sheath46 .adjacentthe alined slots 1U are receivable in the reentrant recesses 12 and arestraddledv bythe walls of the latter when lips 58 respect to themagazine, the lower faces 15 (Figs.

2b,v 3, 4 and 6) of the sides 54 offthe outside sheath '46 Ymovably reston the seats or flanges 36 of the guard, while the transverse pin 16xedly carried by the marginal portions 51 has its ends .11 (Fig. 2b)slidably guided in the longitudinally disposed slots '18 defined by thelower horizontal faces of the tracks' or anges 35 of the guard G and theupper faces 26 of the sides VI9v of the rail housing I8. Moreover theouter en` largeddiscshaped ends 19 (Figs. 1, 4, 6 and 7) of pins orrivets fastened to the marginal portions 51 of the sides 49 of the case41 are also slidably guided by the upper and lower horizontal walls ortrack means of the. long slots 18 in thespaced sides of the magazine asthe cover is moved forwardly to close the magazine or rearwardlytoexpose the rail.V

According to the invention, a staplecarrying channeled shaped-followerblock S'I is slidably guided on therail and is moved automaticallyrearwardly as the cover is moved to its open position and is movedautomatically forwardly as. the cover is vurged andinoved toits closedposition. In this connection it will be observed asseoir:

that. a helicoidal.. spring: 821s. looped. or: trained. over the.vcurved grooved'. bearing; 8.3: of latch. 61; so that its lower end 84has its terminaleye`85. connected to.Y a hook .86' projecting from theupperwall'of` the. follower which. has itssides/8.6; (Fig. '1)1,providediwith inwardlyy turned flanges 81.

thus. interlocking Ywith the. bottom. facesv of.. the.

rail-` to preclude upward displacement.. of the. fol.- loweras itreciprocates during; opening and Yclos;

ing of.` the cover;V The upper legofgspring 8.2; has. itsterminal 88(Figs; l and18). fastenedy to a cen-- tral reducedj partof`atransversely'arrangedv pin..

8.9, xedly carried. by; the. marginal portions 5,1. o the. case; 41 andthe outer ends` ofl pin 8 9; are, receivable in; the .alined and long:spaced. slots g 1.8;; and. slidablyy guided; bythe.; walls or trackvmeans;` thereof when. the cover. is. rectilinearly displaced.. relativeto` the. magazine...

Wliere. the; railsupports no staples. (Fig. 12).- and; the c over ismclosed, the lower leg of springr 82;: has, urged the iollOiVr toitsextreme. forward; positionL thatV is the forward; end ofl the. followerisy in alinement with thew forwardV end, of the rail.` in. thatalinedshoulders; 9IlV of the yfollower abutv the overhanging .endsof therearpinv 89 are; withinthelong slots 18 in the spacedsides.- of the.;magazine.

lIn';v caseraccess is desired tothe rail, the latch` B1;- isfirst-unlocked This is accomplished by grasping wings 9,2-of the-.latchandlifting upf wardly `toremove lips.: 68 fromV the. notches. or

keeper means 69. Thereafter; the, cover may be,v

moved. rearwardly. whereby the.r lower faces (Figs. 2? V,and 4t) of. thesheath. slidablymove. over theguideflanges 3.6.. Asithe cover moves.rearwardly therear endof the. case 451 starts; to overhang the rear; endoff the magazine.- Therefore the outer ends of pin 89.as.well1as. theouterr ends or discsll` or; heads (Fig. 4). of,

rivets. 80A fastened substantially. centrally; of' the p lower margins51. of the case. leave.- the. guideV slots. 18;.whileother'disc.portions` 19 of the remaining. rivets 8.0;. carried. by.A the casetogether-` with the outer. terminalsll of. the pin. 1B re-M mainintheseguide slots/18- at. aatimewhen the latch E1 reaches. therearnotchesVY 13at which time the latch. dro-ps automatically therein-toprevent furtherA rearward displacementl of the cover (Figs. 4 and 15).Hence the cover and magazinev are again= locked against relative-dis-Yplacement. Where however the cover overhangs the-magazine-the covercannotbe fully detached from the magazine inthatf lips: 68 of latch 61cannotl bepa'ssed.y over the stop lugsv 13 (Figs. 9 and 15) at therear.Vof f the-guard'.

During rearward. displacement tof theV cover the lowerflegV of spring82'slidablydrags thelfollowerV 8 I; rearwardly.y ThusfftherailAsaccessible togmount. thereon astaplestrip4 I3; To retract the cover.after azstaple strip is. supplied to the rail.A the operatorVAthereafter again lifts locking latch 61 from notchesmrkeeper means.1'3to' unlock the latter .from therear. end l of the guard anfk shifts-.thecover: towards theifront-part= of'y Also w thegmagazine.. Discs or.heads. 19. andthe outer terminals ofrear'pin 89: which. were previouslyout; ofl the. alined. slots; 1 8:.when the .arm was` open; nowV reenterthese slotstoA be guided. thereby .asj the.;O cover: ismoved. to itsfully closedand pre.-

determinedposition which takes place when ter.'- mina1s1;1.(Fig. 21?);ofthe front pin 16 (Fig. 12)

strike stopl lugsl` 2.5.of the magazine.inwhich.

event lips 68 of the latch fall automaticallyinto front notches 69. of:the magazine andagain the cover and magazine are; locked.

It should-be observedhowever. that asthez cover is1 moved forwardlythefollowerv 8l `due to the action-1 of spring 82:- urges the foremoststaple.- of the staple strip across theraceway 4'3y and the.

tension.I inthe lower leg of` spring 821'. is such asi tocontinuouslyurge the follower forwardly when the cover is closed. In such closedrelation the staple strip I3. is prevented from upward. clis.`

placement bythe lower margins y51 (Fig. la)v of sides 49 of thecase141iand'these margins may besaid to beftelescopically associatedwith the 'magazine With the cover closed and locked the.

plunger may be depressed to cause its blade 44 y to. ejecttheforemoststaple againstappropriate clinching indentations in the anvilIl] at which. time'arm A has pivoted downwardly in instances fofV coursewhere they clearing. latchY has its notched-.noseg disposed. in thenarrow opening 91` and interlocked with bottom wall I1 of the magazinev(Fig. 16). in which case if the arm is tilted downwardly it depressesshoulder 98' (Fig. l) causing seat-99 ofthis latch to also movedownwardly against the free end of' a fixed` leafspring I0!) whichbecomes stressed, andi upon removal'of' hand pressure from cap 62T, theleaf spring. |903 automatically and pivotally retracts` arm: A: whichmay be readily disconnected from.V

the clearing latchi 95-by manipulating tail' I0'I wherebytl'lislatclris` tilted counter clockwise causing noseSS: to becomedisengaged from the Vlowerwall I1 ofthe magazine. and ultimately becomefreeof the-elongated'opening 91. Under sucl'rcircumstances the base Bmay be swung approximately: one yhundredand eighty deg-reesY inzrespectto the arm AL to permit the latter to beused as a tacker. Y

More particularly clearing. latch 95 is movably guided; in alined slots|03.- and |84 in the base and in a plate |06 xed'to the base and springlIUD.; normally holds shoulders I'Illt andl of the clearing latch 95:against the fixed plateflll'.. Of coursev as far as the .follower spring82. isA

concerned, the latter hasia double function as is well appreciated, towit, one,l it normally urges the .followerforwardly when. the cover ismovedv toza, closing position, and two, it automatically urges.r latch61f downwardly, the bearing ends^83f= off which are movably guidedbetween sides -54'-.`

(Fig. 2) of sheath 46 andfin the4 relief slots 1I in sidesl 49'of thecase 41- of the cover' C. It .should be understood ofcourse that 'wherethe magazine is appreciably vi'llled with staples, and Y latch 51 isremovedor unlocked from themagazine, the cover automatically movesrearwardly toiopenthe magazine dueto the automatic contraction of theextendiblehelicoidal spring 82;

Thusthelatter may be said to have an additional1 rfunction ofautomatically shifting theY coverrearwardly to openthe vinagazine'whenthev latch isv removedfrom the'frontnotches or `keeperrneans 69; Forpurposes of specificationv leaf: spring Illllmay be said to besecured'toan'inner face-of' the channeled base B-byfthe:suitably:A

anchoredistrap I02f(Figsl); *Y

As many changes could be made in the above described construction andmany widely dierent. species of structural embodiments .could be de-fvised without departing from the scope thereof,V it is intended that allmatter hereinbefore described in the specification and illustrated'inthe accompanying drawings shall be'interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting'sense.

Iclaim.: s V,

l. In combination, a magazine having a rail for supporting staples, afollower slidably mounted on said rail, a rectilinearly reciprocablecover for opening and closing said magazine and including plunger meansfor ejecting a staple from said magazine, liftable latch means fordisconnectably locking said cover and magazine against relativemovement, and spring means cooperatin'g'with said follower and latchmeans to reciprocate said follower during opening and closing of saidmagazine by said cover and to urge said latch means towards saidmagazine.

2. In combination, a magazine having a rail for supporting staples, afollower slidably interlocked with said rail, a rectilinearly shiftablecover for closing said magazine and including plunger means for ejectinga staple from lsaid magazine, a liftable llatch carried by said coverand disconnectably associated with said magazine to lock the 1atterandspring means cooperating with said follower and` latch means to holdtheY latter removably interlocked with said magazine in the fully openedor closed relation of said cover and to slidably displace said followerduring opening r closing of said magazine by said cover.

3. In combination, an arm'comprising a magazine having a rail forsupporting staples, a follower slidably mounted on said rail, arectilinearly displaceable cover for opening and closing said magazineand including plunger means for ejecting a staple from said magazine,means to limit forward and rearward rectilinear displacement of saidcover relativeto said magazine, liftable latch means carried by saidarm, and spring means cooperating with said follower to shift the latterduring opening and-closing of said magazine by said coverl andcooperating to hold said latch interlocked with said magazine in thefully closed or open relation of said cover.

.4. In combination,-a magazine for holding staples and including keepermeans, a cover for said magazine, means rectilinearly guiding said coverrelative to said magazine, a staple follower in said magazine, latchmeans for removably cooperating with said keeper means to preventdisplacement of said cover relative to said magazine, driving means forejecting one of said'staples from said magazine, spring means secured tosaid cover and followerY for reciprocating the latter duringreciprocation of said cover and coopsupportingrail in said magazine,track meansin said magazine above said rail, a reciprocable covercomprising a front sheath and a rearwardly disposed case extending belowsaid sheath and into said magazine adjacent said track means, and meansprojecting-from said case Vand rectilinearly and reciprocably guided byand receivable on. said track means to permit bodily rectilineardisplacement of saidicover relative to said magazine. Y

6. In a staplingl machine, a magazine having spaced'sides includingfront' and rear. spaced notch means, a staple supporting rail in saidmagazine, a slidable follower on said rail, track Y means in saidmagazine above said rail, a reciprocable cover comprising a front`sheath rectilinearly displaceable onsaid sides and having a rearwardlydisposed case extending below said sheath and into `said magazineadjacent said track means, latch means carried by said cover andextending laterally of said sheath and adapt-v ed to ride along saidsides, means projecting from said case'and rectilinearly andreciprocablyguided and receivable on said track means, and springl meanscommon to said follower and latch means connected to said cover and fordisplacing said follower towards the rear of said magazine when saidcover is bodily moved rearwardly relative to said magazine, said latchmeans adapted to interlock with said rear notch means to limit saidrearward displacement and adapted upon forward displacement to interlockwith said front notch means. l

7. In combination, a magazine for holding staples and including keepermeans, a follower slidably mounted in said magazine, a rectilinearlyreciprocable cover for opening and closing said magazine and includingplunger means for eject- Ying a staple from said magazine, means forrecf ples, and including keeper means, a follower slidably lmounted, insaid magazine, a cover on said magazine, means for rectilinearly guidingsaid cover for opening and closing said magazine, plunger means'forejecting a staple from said magazine, liftable latch means cooperatingwith said keeper means for disconnectably locking said cover andmagazine against relative movement, and spring means secured to saidcover and cooperating with said follower and latch means and trainedover `said latch means to reciprocate saidfollower during opening andclosing v of said magazine by said cover and to urge said latch meanstowards said magazine.

9.,In combination, a magazine for holding staples and including keepermeans, a follower slidable Vin said magazine, a shiftable cover foropening and closing said magazine and including plunger means forejecting a staple from said magazine, means for rectilinearly guidingsaid cover relative to said magazine, a liftable latch carried by saidcover and disconnectably associated withV said keeper means, and springmeans connected to said follower and cover and trained oversaid latchmeans to hold the latter interlocked with said keeper means inthe fullyopened or closed relation -ofsaid cover and to slidably displace saidfollower during opening or closing of said magazineby said cover.

10. In combination, a magazine having a rail for holding staplesandincluding keeper means.

a follower slidable on said-rail, a shiftable cover substantiallycoextensive with-,the length of said magazine for closing said magazineand including plunger means for ejecting astaple from said magazine,means for rectilinearly VAguiding ldisplacement of said coverlongitudinally of said magazine, a liftable latch carried by said coverand disconnectably receivable in said keeper means to lock saidmagazine, and extendible spring means connected to said follower andcover and looped over said latch means to hold the latter interlockedwith said keeper means in the fully opened or closed relation of saidcover and to slidably displace said follower during opening or closingof said magazinev by said cover.

11. In combination, a magazine for holding staples and including keepermeans, a follower slidable in said magazine, a displaceable coversuperimposed on said magazine for opening and closing said magazine andincluding plunger means for ejecting a staple from said magazine, meansfor rectilinearly guiding said cover relative to said magazine, means tolimit forward and rearward displacement of said cover relative to saidmagazine, liftable latch means carried by said cover, and coiled springmeans connected to said cover and follower and looped over said latchmeans to shift said follower during opening and closing of said magazineby said cover and cooperating to hold said latch means interlocked withsaid keeper means in the fully closed or open relation of said cover.

12. In combination, a magazine for supporting` staples and comprisingfront and rear keeper means, a follower slidable in said magazine adisplaceable cover for opening and closing said magazine and includingplunger means for ejecting a staple from said magazine, means forslidably and rectilinearly guiding said cover relative to said magazine,means to limit forward and rearward displacement of said cover, liftablelatch means slidably carried by said cover and having winged meansaccessible outside of said cover and including a curved body havingupper and lower portions, and coiled spring means connected to saidcover and follower and trained over said body to straddle said portionsfor shifting said follower during opening and closing of said magazineby said cover and cooperating to hold said latch means interlocked withsaid front keeper means in the fully closed relation of said cover andcooperating to hold said latch means interlocked with said rear keepermeans substantially in' the fully opened relation of said cover,

13. In combination, a magazine for supporting staples and having spacedsides including inwardly over hanging flanges, a cover for said magazineseated on said flanges and including outwardly projecting means, drivingmeans for ejecting a staple out of said magazine, means for slidably andrectilinearly guiding said projecting means'longitudinally of saidmagazine, a slidable follower in said magazine, .liftable latch means,and a spring trained over said latch means and connected to saidfollower and cover for driving said follower to the rear of saidmagazine-upon opening of said magazine by said cover and for drivingsaid follower to the front of said magazine upon closing of the latterby said cover.

14. In combination, a magazine for supporting staples and having spacedsides including inwardly overhanging flanges, a cover comprising asheath seated on said flanges and including a case straddled by saidsheath and projecting into said magazine, track means, means projectingfromsaid case slidably and rectilinearly guided by said track meanslongitudinally of said magazine, a liftable latch carried by said cover,driving means for vejecting a'staple out of said magazine, `and a springconnected to said follower and cover and trained oversaid latch forurging said follower rearw'ardly'when said magazine is opened by saidcover land for urging said follower forwardly when said magazinev isclosed by said cover.

15. In combination, a'magazine for supporting staples and having spacedsides including inwardly overhanging flanges, Va cover comprising asheath 'seated on said flanges and including a 'case straddled by saidsheath and projecting into said magazine, track means, means projectingfromsaid caseslidably and rectilinearly vguided Vby said track meanslongitudinally of said magazine, arliftable latchv mounted on saidcovenand a spring connectedto said follower and cover and trained oversaid latch for urging said follower rearwardlyV when said magazine isopened by said cover for urging said follower forwardly L when saidmagazine is closed `by said cover, saidl flanges having means kforinterlocking with said latch to limit displacement of said coverrelative to said magazine, said driving means for ejecting a staple outof said magazine.

16. In a stapling machine, a magazine for supporting staples and havingtrack means, a rectilinearly reciprocable cover comprising a frontsheath and a rearwardly disposed case extending below said sheath andinto said magazine adjacent said track means, means projecting from saidcase and rectilinearly and reciprocably guided by said track means topermit bodily linear displacement of said cover relative to saidmagazine, means to limit linear displacement of said cover relative tosaid magazine, and driving means for ejecting a staple out of saidmagazine.

1'?. In a stapling machine, a magazine for supporting staples and havingtrack means disposed lengthwise of said magazine, a reciprocable covercomprising a front sheath and a rearwardly disposed caseA extendingbelow said sheath and into said magazine adjacent said track means,means projecting from said case and rectilinearly and reciprocablyguided by said track means to permit bodily linear displacement .of saidcover relative to said magazine, a staple follower in said magazine, alatch carried by said cover, spring means trained over said latch andconnected to said follower and cover for reciprocating said follower inresponse to the reciprocation of said cover, and driving means forejecting a staple out of said magazine.

18. In a stapling machine, a magazine for supporting staples 'and havingspaced sides including front and rear spaced notch means, a slidablefollower in said magazine, track means in said magazine, a reciprocablecover comprising aV adapted to interlock with said rear notch means tolimit said rearward displacement and adapted upon forward displacementto interlock with said front notch means, and driving means for ejectinga staple from said magazine.

1'9. In a stapling machine, a staple carrying member having an open top,a rectilinearly displaceable cover member mounted upon said staplecarrying member for longitudinal sliding movement relative theretoadapted in a forwardly moved position to enclose said top and in arearwardly moved position to expose said top for the loading of astaplerstrip in said member, a locking member movably mounted upon saidcover member and movable between locking and unlocking positions andadapted in locking position to removably interlock with said staplecarrying member, stop means effective to limit forward or rearwardrectilinear displacement of said cover member, a slidably guidedfollower in said staple carrying member, a spring interposed betweensaid follower and staple carrying member and trained over said lockingmember to automatically shift said follower in response to rectilinearmovement of said staple carrying member, and driving means for ejectinga staple out of said staple carrying member.

20. In combination, a magazine for supporting staples, a coversubstantially coextensive with the length of said magazine andsuperimposed thereon, means for rectilinearly guiding said coverrelative to said magazine, means to limit forward `or rearwardrectilinear displacement of said cover relative to said magazine,shiftable latch'means cooperating with said magazine to precluderectilinear displacement of said cover relative to said magazine, arectilinear displaceable follower in said magazine, extendible springmeans looped over said latch means and connected to said cover and inpart projecting into said magazine and connected to said follower fordisplacing the latter in a direction corresponding to the rectilineardisplacement of said cover and for overhanging said magazine duringrearward rectilinear displacement of said cover relative to saidmagazine, said cover having means projecting into said magazine toprevent displacement of said staples in a direction upwardly towardssaid cover when said cover closes said magazine, and driving means forejecting a staple out of said magazine. Y

STEPHEN A. CROSBY.

